Zimmerman's hitting streak reaches 30 games

SAN FRANCISCO -- Ryan Zimmerman swiftly extended his hitting streak to 30 games, getting a first-inning single Tuesday night in the Washington Nationals' game against the San Francisco Giants.

Zimmerman matched George Brett's 30-game streak in 1980 for the longest by a third baseman since Pete Rose's 44-game streak in 1978, although Rose played two games in left field during his famed streak.

Zimmerman singled off Matt Cain on Tuesday night, the 14th time he's had a hit in his first at-bat during the streak. He had a first-inning single off Randy Johnson on Monday before going 4-for-5 with two homers.

The streak is the fourth-longest in the majors since 2000, matching 30-game streaks by Moises Alou (2007), Willy Taveras (2006) and Albert Pujols (2003).